Ohio State Researchers Build Fungus-Based Memory Devices

Scientists at The Ohio State University successfully created experimental memristors using dried shiitake mushroom mycelium.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Semiconductors

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a stylized, geometric fungal mycelium mat with integrated circuit lattice, representing biological computing. — Researchers at The Ohio State University have successfully created experimental memory components using dried shiitake mushroom mycelium for brain-inspired computing. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should researchers prioritize developing biodegradable mushroom-based computer components over traditional silicon chips?

In 2025, researchers at The Ohio State University demonstrated that shiitake fungi can function as electronic memory components. This experimental system uses mycelium mats grown in laboratory conditions to create devices designed for brain-inspired computing.

Why it matters

The project seeks to identify environmentally sustainable alternatives to traditional silicon-based semiconductors. These fungal electronics offer potential benefits in specialized fields like aerospace due to their natural resistance to radiation.

The study evaluated four mushroom samples grown with farro, wheat germ, and hay. The devices achieved 90% accuracy in memory tests at 5,850 cycles per second and maintained 95% match to ideal behavior at 1 volt and 10 cycles per second.

The players

The Ohio State University

A public research university in Columbus that hosts extensive laboratories for advanced materials and engineering studies.

LaRocco

A researcher who contributed to studies regarding biological memory systems including experiments with kombucha cultures.

The details

To create the components, the team formed mycelium mats and dried them in sunlight to preserve their electrical properties. These samples were then rehydrated and connected to an Arduino-powered circuit to measure their performance as information storage devices.

The Ohio State University research was conducted during 2025.
The university issued a public statement regarding these findings in October 2025.
A co-author discussed the status of the research in an interview in January 2026.
Researcher LaRocco explored memory properties in kombucha cultures in an August 2026 preprint.

The Tech Race

This project explores a shift away from traditional silicon-based memory components toward sustainable biological alternatives. It represents an early step in fungal electronics research, potentially replacing or augmenting legacy semiconductors in radiation-heavy environments.

While this technology is currently experimental, it may eventually lead to more environmentally friendly electronics production. Future applications could also include more durable components for aerospace technology, though these are not yet ready for consumer markets.

The takeaway

This study demonstrates that biological materials can be successfully integrated into computing hardware to serve as memory devices. Such innovations suggest a future where organic substrates could reduce the environmental footprint of global semiconductor fabrication.